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Ross Gilmour, a bodybuilder and personal trainer in Dubai, sees men in their early 20s or even late teens turning to anabolic steroids for quicker results. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VCBHDCPCFEXNNYFBAPCPBPQFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8608989052ad54643af47c32aa8b67d1ef8d65879e1e1714d4747e450e472871&width=400&height=225)
Young people are bombarded with images of the 'perfect body' on social media and in fitness centres in particular. More young men are turning to supplements - some of them illegal, others not - to bulk up quickly. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TFNDCFISRDYM36UWVFOBFYQMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=70bfcd102a0d9779cffc939ebef48c0cfc25fdd024fd81a9ceb774299bd3a8d7&width=400&height=225)
Dr Fadi Baladi, internal medicine consultant at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, has seen more patients this year who have a low or zero sperm count from using steroids or growth hormone. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FR77AEFI4VEZ7FXCUXTJ2TPSV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b0d8858e17ef3b47dd3f0eb71ff38906e6ee07bcbdec6b813cc3e002b7279c7&width=400&height=225)
Ross Gilmour, a bodybuilder and personal trainer in Dubai, sees men in their early 20s or even late teens turning to anabolic steroids for quicker results. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3VCBHDCPCFEXNNYFBAPCPBPQFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8608989052ad54643af47c32aa8b67d1ef8d65879e1e1714d4747e450e472871&width=400&height=225)
Young people are bombarded with images of the 'perfect body' on social media and in fitness centres in particular. More young men are turning to supplements - some of them illegal, others not - to bulk up quickly. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TFNDCFISRDYM36UWVFOBFYQMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=70bfcd102a0d9779cffc939ebef48c0cfc25fdd024fd81a9ceb774299bd3a8d7&width=400&height=225)
Dr Fadi Baladi, internal medicine consultant at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, has seen more patients this year who have a low or zero sperm count from using steroids or growth hormone. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FR77AEFI4VEZ7FXCUXTJ2TPSV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b0d8858e17ef3b47dd3f0eb71ff38906e6ee07bcbdec6b813cc3e002b7279c7&width=400&height=225)
Ross Gilmour, a bodybuilder and personal trainer in Dubai, sees men in their early 20s or even late teens turning to anabolic steroids for quicker results. Antonie Robertson / The National
Doctor sees 'growing numbers' of gym-going steroid users with fertility problems
More than 70 men sent for breast reduction surgery from one clinic after steroid abuse
![Nick Webster](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9cfba7f3-8cc8-4789-bcec-97bd0007d9ef.png?smart=true&auth=96a9a5766af20e4704e52306e74ecd02669a7e0ffd084d4151d31e0039a945d3&width=70&height=70)
Nick Webster
21 October, 2022
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